Geithner Praises Warren, Hints Support for Her to Take Consumer Protection Post
EmailDoes the Treasury Secretary want one of his fiercest critics to helm the newly-created Bureau of Consumer Protection? In an interview on ABC News’ This Week, he sounded like he does, but stopped short of endorsing her.
Host Jake Tapper asked Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner if he supported Elizabeth Warren to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
“She is a enormously effective advocate for reform,” Geithner replied. “Probably the most effective advocate for reform for consumers for consumer protection in the country.”
“She has huge credibility and she played a decisive role in helping make the public case for reform and she was early on this, way ahead of everybody else,” Geithner told Tapper.
But does the Treasury Secretary have concerns about a woman who has been so sharply critical of him in her role as independent supervisor of the $700 billion bank bailout?
“I don’t have concerns and I should say in that context that she has been playing a very important role in providing oversight over the programs we put in place to break the back of this financial crisis. You know, put out this financial fire,” he said. “Alongside a bunch of other oversight bodies, she did what she had to do in that context and it’s what she should do. She should shine a very careful independent assessment on all the actions government takes to make sure…Americans know what we’re doing and see the results of what we’re doing and she did that very well.”
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Does anyone out there in media land really believe Geithner?
I can’t look at him without thinking about his “tax evasion” and the fact that he is the overseer of the IRS.
Incredible but true. I would feel better if he were gone.
Posted by: PC | July 25, 2010, 1:33 pm 1:33 pm
Geithner knows that the progressive nutroots will flip out if he says anything negative about Warren.
They have made it clear if Obama does not choose Warren that is the LAST straw.
How many times has the left used the LAST STRAW threat in the past 18 months?
Almost as many times as they use the race card.
Posted by: ollie | July 25, 2010, 2:48 pm 2:48 pm
Oh, come on. The only reason he “hinted” support for Warren is because of the massive outcry over the past few days after reports surfaced that he wanted his own lackey to take the post.
What Tapper should have asked is whether his new-found, lukewarm support for Warren has anything to do with the outrage from Main St. upon hearing that he didn’t support her. Also, Tapper should have asked Geithner about how all along the way, he (Geithner) essentially opposed many of the reforms regarding accountability and bank size that Warren has advocated. And yet suddenly Geithner is a big Warren fan? Pretty unlikely.
Posted by: Stacy | July 25, 2010, 3:33 pm 3:33 pm
If what Geitner says is true that it was her idea…then she should be put in charge of it. She is diligent in looking after every penny. She would be an excellent candidate and is not afraid to stand up to anyone.
Posted by: talmag | July 25, 2010, 4:27 pm 4:27 pm
This is not a left vs. right issue. This is a Main Street vs. Wall Street issue. It’s not just progressives that would like to see Warren head up the CPFA but ordinary folks from all walks of life who are sick of getting bilked by the big banks.
What’s so radical about consumer protection and perhaps trying to prevent the next global crisis?
Posted by: Stacy | July 25, 2010, 4:59 pm 4:59 pm